I read with tongue in cheek your observation of the choice of magazine that
a teacher might choose. Then to top it off, I read the letter from the home
schooling Mom in Florida. It amuses me when I see these people who are
running down public education and teachers. This woman's husband is a
doctor. Wonder where he got his education! I can assure you it wasn't from
Cracker Jacks! She also is teaching her children. Wonder where she learned
to read and write! Sometimes we forget that teachers help create all other
occupations. If you can't read and write, forget it! If you can read and
write, thank a teacher. While we are on this, instead of running teachers
down, why not try helping to fix the system. Also, the books the Mom is
using, I bet two to one they were written by educators. I am a Professional
Educator and I am proud of it! Second, how dare YOU decide if a project is
relevant of not. Where did you get your education degree? Teachers are
state employees and we are bound by what the state legislatures and the
state education department says to do. It didn't hurt your son one bit to
"waste his time" on one project. He is not the only one in the class. The
project may have been an integrated content area project that others needed
to do. Did you ask the teacher if he could do something else? Or was it
just easier to make a big problem and be noticed and have something to write
about on your website? However, sometimes one forgets that down the road of
the future that stupid project may mean something for just a fleeting
moment. Also, the principal that agreed with you that it was a bad project
needs a lesson in employee management. He just wanted to get you out of his
office. That is his job! More than likely he has a degree in English or
P.E. Odds are he didn't have a math degree or math certification. Just
because you know math doesn't mean you understand it and just because you
understand it doesn't mean you can apply, synthesize and evaluate it. I hold
a BS in Science, MS in Math, and I am on my way to a PhD in Science. These
are not all education degrees. We have a system that needs to be fixed.
But, nobody wants to help fix it, but everybody is willing to place blame
for it. I recently held fall conferences for my students and out of 42
students, I had only 10 parents show up. Maybe the answer to education lies
outside of the classroom and not with the classroom. However, I would
rather teach than do anything else in the world. Let me add that I am quite
aware that there are "bad" teachers out there. However, there are "bad"
doctors, lawyers, nurses, web site builders, and mathematicians. Education
is the most important thing a person can give to a child next to spending
time with them. I hope the children in Florida do well in life, but I bet
they are going to have social problems. They have never had to work with
someone they don't like. They have not had to share materials and books
with other students. They do not have anybody's ideas except the ones their
parents posses. It also sounds as though the boys have a father that is too
busy with work to help his "teacher" wife. I would be very concerned if
these students were in my class. More than likely they would be wonderful
to teach and work with, however, what message is being sent to them when
their father's practice takes up to much of his time. Last, you have a very
interesting website. I will be sharing it with my students. Oh, I didn't
tell you. I teach at-risk, socio-economically depressed, and culturally
diverse students. They are the greatest! Most are behind when they come to
us and it is a joy to see them excel in the right environment. Before any
one passes judgment on teachers, let me invite you to walk in my shoes for
just one year. I guarantee you will change your mind and stop putting down
teachers and start helping us try to fix the system or create a new one.
Thank you for the opportunity to express my views.